Strengthen political education through practical training

KUALA LUMPUR - Implementation of education on politics at secondary schools needs to be strengthen through practical training such as holding an election so that students could comprehend the country’s democratic system.

The matter was being debated by 10 representatives during the Youth Parliamentary Debathon 2023 entitled ‘Implementation of Political Education in Secondary Schools’ held at the Parliament, today.

A representative from the government bloc who is also a student from Sekolah Menengah Bukit Gading Ammar Mahdi Mohd Ashari, 19, said political education should be made a compulsory subject in secondary schools.

He said this would provide early exposure to the democratic and political systems which were also part of the people’s rights.

“A lot of youths do not understand their role in elections and in the end it could harm the country.

“Right now, we lack knowledge about politics, so in order to maintain the well-being and prosperity of the country, exposure (to politics) needs to start from the secondary school level.

“Undi18 has been approved and implemented during the previous general election and we do not want youths to be lost as it could bring harm to the country,” he said.

Ammar won the best debater for the programme, today.

The debate session was chaired by Raub MP Chow Yu Hui.

A representative from the opposition bloc who is also a Universiti Islam Selangor student, Nurdiyana Zulkifli, 23, also urged the government to ensure that political education was being empowered by carrying out activities or programmes related to politics, especially on the election process.

However, she said the government needed to conduct a feasibility study on the subject to avoid any flaws that could burden the teachers and students.

“The government should strengthen and maintain the existing subjects and not add on another subject.

“Their mental emotions also need to be considered as a bad impact will be harmful to the students’ health. They will lose focus thus affecting the learning process,” she said.